Council Introduces City’s 2016 Budget; Floor Area Ratio Still Being Debated

SEA ISLE CITY – Sea Isle City Council met Feb. 24 and approved several ordinances on introduction and first reading. Those included ordinances to exceed the budget appropriation limit, to provide for ingress and egress easements for Springfield Inn, and to provide for various capital improvements in the city including water and sewer. Ordinances will be on the March 15 meeting agenda for second reading and public comment.
Council introduced the 2016 budget of $29.9 million which calls for $16.9 million for municipal purposes, estimated $1.8 million for the school, estimated $9.46 million for county purposes and $1.3 million for the library. If passed, the new local purpose tax rate would be 37.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, a 15.23 percent increase over the prior year’s 32.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.
According to the budget available on the city website, the average tax payment would be $2,471, up about $327 over the prior year.
This resolution and budget details will be on the agenda of the March 9 meeting with public hearing scheduled March 29 at that day’s meeting.
FAR Still Contentious
During the public comment portion of the meeting, the issue of FAR (floor area ratio) continued to be raised. As the Herald previously reported the subject has been long debated in the city with various opportunities for the public to weigh in on recommendations.
Further, taking into account citizen input, council recently passed an ordinance calling for a higher FAR for new residential construction.
Local builders have stated that they are concerned that the FAR, as currently set in the new ordinance, might need to be changed, and that they are looking for “a win-win” situation if that is the case. 
Council member Frank Edwardi said that he will ask one of the contractors active in the city to give a presentation on FAR at the next council meeting.
In response, during public comment, a property owner asked, “You’ve already voted on this, why are you continuing to discuss it?”
Council President John Gibson asked City Solicitor Paul Baldini “Do we need to follow the process such as new advertising for any changes?,” to which Baldini responded, “If the changes are minor, no.”
Flooded Roads
Council member William Kehner asked if the police could start barricading City’s roads when they experience major or high flooding, such as is done in Ocean City. City Administrator George Savastanos said he would look into this option.
Tourism to Advertise
James Bennett, chairman of the city’s Tourism Commission, gave an update on activities. “We are going to place billboards along one portion of I-95 for nine weeks and along another portion of that highway for another nine weeks. We’re also going to advertise near the Walt Whitman Bridge,” said Bennett.
In response to a question from a property owner, Bennett said that the commission’s activities are funded through a local mercantile tax.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.